The pregnancy was meticulously planned for Andrea, a first-time mother. Shumaker said the zoo coordinated with the national Association of Zoos and Aquariums to make sure zoos don't accidentally breed too many tigers to support and to make sure Petya and Andrea would be the perfect genetic match.

Andrea and her cub will spend the next several weeks in a special enclosed area to protect the health of the baby, Shumaker said.

Two other Amur tigers live at the Indianapolis Zoo. Petya, 7, also became a father for the first time earlier this month. And Cila was born along with several other tigers at the zoo 11 years ago.

Zookeepers won't pick up the infant to check its gender until Andrea is comfortable leaving the cub's fuzzy side. The infant likely will be ready to leave the enclosed den to roam outside in a few months, and Shumaker said mother and baby will stay together for at least a few years.

Once the zoo learns whether they have a tiger boy or girl, tiger lovers will be able to help pick the cub's name by voting on the Indianapolis Zoo'sFacebook page.

The tiny cub is one of about 150 other Amur tigers that live in American zoos, according to a statement from the zoo.

Some people incorrectly believe tiger bones have medicinal or "supernatural" powers, Shumaker said, and they make tonics from the bones to "acquire their strength."

More commonly known as the Siberian tiger, deforestation and poaching drastically reduced the number of wild Amurs from tens of thousands to less than 50 by the 1940s. About 500 Amurs roam wild in far east Russia today.

The Amur is one of six subspecies of tigers, all of which are endangered, Shumaker said. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources estimates the total tiger population in the world could be as low as 3,200.

He said the Indianapolis birth, at least in some small way, could help conservation efforts to save the species.

"It's a wonderful way for us to engage and educate people about tigers and make people aware of important conservation efforts," Shumaker said.

"The first and most important thing people can do is learn more about tigers, understand more about them and then find good a conservation network to support."